Typical Project • Flooring
LVP on a First-Floor Slab: Typical Scope
A worked example of luxury vinyl plank across a 1,000 sq ft first floor on a slab in Bellaire (77401). It is a typical scope, not a past project. Get a free instant quote for your own floors.
Executive Summary: LVP on a First-Floor Slab
Luxury vinyl plank on a first-floor slab replaces worn carpet and swollen laminate with a waterproof floor that floats over a moisture-barrier underlayment.
This typical scope: 1,000 sq ft of 20 mil SPC plank, an estimated 2 to 4 days, and an estimated $4,000 to $9,000 to install at $4 to $9 per sq ft, or $5,000 to $11,500 with old flooring removed at $1 to $2.50 per sq ft.
A damp slab adds a moisture barrier, and an out-of-flat slab must be leveled before install. Henry Contractor checks flatness but does not offer slab leveling.
The Typical Scope
| Item | This example |
|---|---|
| Project size | 1,000 sq ft: living room, dining room, halls and kitchen |
| Neighborhood | Bellaire (77401) |
| Service | Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Houston |
| System | Moisture reading + straightedge check, moisture-barrier underlayment, floating click-lock SPC with a 1/4-inch expansion gap |
| The problem | Worn carpet in the living areas and laminate edges swollen near the kitchen |
| The solution | Remove carpet, tack strip and laminate, clean the slab, float the plank and reinstall the shoe molding |
| Estimated timeline | 2 to 4 days |
| Estimated cost | $5,000 to $11,500 with removal ($4,000 to $9,000 install only) |
| Priced separately | Stairs, thresholds and furniture or appliance moves |
All prices are typical Houston-area ranges and are estimates.
Get an Exact Number
We test the slab, measure every room and list removal, prep and transitions on the written estimate.
How the Job Runs
| Stage | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate and slab testing | Week before | Moisture reading, straightedge check, plank choice, written estimate |
| Demo and prep | Day 1 | Carpet, tack strip and laminate removed, slab cleaned, shoe molding pulled, doors undercut |
| Installation | Day 1 to Day 3 | Underlayment down, plank floated with a 1/4-inch gap at the walls |
| Trim and walkthrough | Final day | Shoe molding reinstalled, transitions set, walkthrough with the crew lead |
These are estimates. A damp slab reading adds a moisture barrier before install.
What Changes the Price
- A damp slab reading adds a moisture barrier
- Pre-1980s vinyl tile or cutback adhesive needs asbestos testing before removal
- Premium waterproof planks run $6 to $15 per sq ft installed (estimate)
- Glue-down plank, used in rentals and sunrooms, prices differently from floating
Compare plank with tile and wood on Flooring Comparison for Houston Homes, and see every material on the Houston Flooring Cost Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is slab testing, removal of the old floor, moisture-barrier underlayment, the planks with a 1/4-inch expansion gap at the walls, transitions at doorways and reinstalled shoe molding. Each item is listed on the written estimate, so the total has no surprises.
Yes, we do work in occupied homes, moving room by room so the rest of the house stays usable. Furniture moves to finished rooms as the crew goes, and floating LVP can be walked on as soon as it is installed, with no cure time.
The short answer is that the baseboards usually stay and the shoe molding comes off. The planks float with a 1/4-inch gap at the walls, then the shoe molding goes back on to cover that gap, so the baseboard paint is rarely disturbed.
For the right order when paint and floors are both planned, see Painting or Flooring First: Houston Remodel Order.
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